Modeling the Magic Leap One Experience

After all this time (and money) this is really the best they can do? This has to be some sort of early prototype thing. Surely they will never ship this to market in it's current form.

I'm skeptical of the analysis because it seems the author has a singular fixation on constantly criticizing ML, and apparently works for competitors.

He may be right, but whether or not ML1 is a success really won't depend on whether or not stuff like the original concept of fibre optical scanning light fields will work, the ML1 will succeed or fail based on consumer experience and content availability. And I really don't think this Kremlinology-based approach could capture it anymore than people speculating on what the Apple watch or iPhones would be like based on photos of the device and patents.

kind of unfortunate but if they can get this out and then do it better the second time around...

Where have all the billions gone? did they spend it already?

Just from my anecdotal experience of using the HoloLens, (but not the ML1) the FOV problem these devices have is more tied to the display size than the unobstructed view of the real world. You brain will compensate for the obstructed view and you will forget about it pretty quickly. A larger FOV is obviously better, but it isn't a deal breaking flaw. The display being limited to an even smaller area will be something your brain will never get used to. You will have to be looking directly at a virtual object to see it. As soon as you slightly turn away the virtual object will disappear and immediately break any immersion.